Happiness Highlights

I had a TOUGH day yesterday....the whole day...never got better. However, something had caught my eye on Twitter ( I love Twitter), to take a moment and make some Happiness Highlights of your day. It really made me think about things that make me happy, or I prefer joyful (but that doesn't rhyme with Highlights) So...here it goes, (in no particular order)some of my happiness highlights.....

1. God's Word. I don't know how people go throughout life with out it. It has given me such comfort over the last couple of months. I am so thankful to the Lord that He has given us His word for encouragement and instruction.

2. My I Phone. This is what makes me happy right? I have had to think about giving it up, which has made me more thankful for it now. I love my phone.

3.Fall decorations. I love the browns and oranges.

4. Good friends and family that encourage me. The Lord has blessed me so abundantly in this area. I have a great sister and girls who are like my sisters. Not everyone has had this in their life and my cup overflows!

Getting pedicures with some of my favorite people for my birthday.
5. Lucy Griselda Ann Elliott. No one has been making me laugh harder. Like when she puts a sticker over her eye and comes around the corner and says, "Argh, Momma. I a pirate!" Or when I have rocked her in a chair singing to her in her room, and just when I think she's alseep. She says, with her eyes closed, "Sing it again." So...I do.
6. Matt , the love of my life. I am so encouraged by the Spiritual leader he is in our family. How the Lord is growing him in His walk with the Lord. His love and concern for others and how he loves his girls! I love you Matt! (P.S. I'm your Soldier!)
7. My Kindergarten "Star of the Week" Ivy Emma Elisabeth Elliott! This week is her "Gotcha Day" and she's star of the week. It is a good week to be Ivy Elliott. I have loved teasing her about all the surprises coming her way on Gotcha Day. She has made me so happy when I wasn't feeling good and she dusted the whole house on her own. I love her heart.

8. My house. Even though I only have it until Thanksgiving. I was looking around today, so thankful for the time I had here. I brought my babies home here. Great memories.

9. Twitter. Since I mentioned it before. I love the people that I follow and finding out what is going on with some pastors I like to listen to, and some celebs. :) And Pinterest....for those of you on it, you know. :)

10. The glowing green smoothie I have been drinking. Of course I would rather be eating a donut, but I feel good and it is helping in the weightloss.

11. My friend, Andrea, who is ALWAYS willing to watch Lucy when Matt has to go somewhere. She has been a huge help and I am so thankful how she actually gets excited when Lulu is coming...Ok. And Emily. :)

12. The body of Christ. Anonymos help and friendly notes for Matt and I when we haven't even asked for it. It brings tears to my eyes.

13. The $100 Visa gift card that I won in a contest at work, along with a giftcard from Target that we got as a present, that is my kid's Christmas presents all taken care of! That ROCKED! And when Kayce said," I couldn't be more happy if I had won that myself!" Happy....

14. Singing and worship songs. Feeds my soul. So thankful for the 3 years at Placerita Baptist where Aaron allowed me to be used and be creative. I have loved every minute of it.

Wow, once you get going, you can't stop! What makes you happy?

Smoothie Making: Healthy Living

Ok, so I hit a wall 2 weeks ago. I was getting dressed for church and I "Officially" had NOTHING to wear. I had gained that much weight. I had given away all of my "fat" clothes when I lost weight, vowing to never go back. One thing I have learned about myself through foster care and Matt losing his job is that I am definately a stress eater! I told Matt that I refused to go buy something, we should not be spending money on that, especially when Matt still doesn't have a job. So I said, I was going to change. I did great last week, I lost almost 4 pounds! I worked out on the eliptical for an hour for 4 days (my goal was 5) and tried to eat as healthy as I could. I also went back to trying to stay away from white flour, sugar, and dairy. I did Ok. I still had a piece of Sam's Club pizza....but stopped eating after that piece of pizza. I don't stress out over stuff like that because it needs to be a lifestyle.

The one thing that I had been wanting to do is "Juice" in the mornings. I have a great Blendtec blender and so I was on the search for a great Juicing, all natural recipe. I stumbled on a book that I got on my Kindle called The Beauty Detox Solution . It gives a great recipe for a glowing green smoothie . While, I don't agreee with everything in the book from a Christian standpoint. She does have some great tips and she talks alot about food pairing and how that gives you energy and makes you look and feel healthy.

I like the book for that fact that she gives you tips on how to incorporate (even on a small level) things to make you feel better and loose weight as a lifestyle. While I am at it, if you are struggling spiritually with your weight (as I do). There are 2 books which I highly recommend reading BEFORE this other book . These books have really made a difference in my life regarding my lack of self control with food. They are MUST READS for anyone struggling. They are "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst and "Reshaping it All" by Candace Cameron Bure.
Lucy helped me get everything ready.
Washing lettuce and getting it ready for salads.

The Americana

Today Matt and I took the girls to the Americana in Glendale for a free kids music concert. It was really fun. They loved it. Ivy is turning into a great photographer. We love daddy for doing girl stuff with us!They had face painting there for the kids. I didn't let Lucy do it or her naptime would have been a disaster. She didn't even seem to notice.


Mom, Stop taking pictures while I'm trying to listen to the concert!
Melissa Green is great!
The Americana is beautiful, even on an overcast day.

Saturday Garage Sales

Ivy REALLY wanted to go to garage sales today. She had her and Lucy dressed, to go cups for the car with drinks, a banana for a snack , shoes on and beds made before I officially was ready. We went to a couple neighborhoods that the whole neighbor hood was having sales.

I saw a couple girls from church. One was my friend Merideth. She was there with her little girl. I spotted this Petunia Pickle Bottle diaper bag and told her she MUST have it. It retails for at least $200 and she got it for $5!
Hollie got a sewing machine and this picture with a cute frame. I think she is going to use the frame for something else.
I got a pair of BORN black sandles, some burlap, and these treasures.... a floral table runner, pink dishes to go with a collection I am starting for my girls, Lucy's initials, a small mason jar (that I put loose leaf tea in)....
a cast iron skillet and these rod iron plates(I saw on a blog to hang something like this on a wall and hang back packs on it or purses).
I spent less than $20 for the whole day, spent time with my girls, sister and friends. A great day!